Assessing psychologists’ knowledge of geriatric depression: a validation study of the Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire

Geriatric depression is an important mental health concern that generalist behavioral health clinicians are increasingly likely to encounter, yet the field lacks an adequate tool to assess providers’ knowledge. This study evaluated the validity, reliability, and factor structure of the Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (LLD-KQ) as part of an ongoing effort to assess the psychometric properties of the scale. Psychologists ( N  = 800) from the southwestern United States were randomly selected to complete a survey that could be returned via postal service or online. Responses were used to examine the internal consistency, construct validity, divergent validity, and factor structure of the 25-item scale. Analysis of the returned surveys ( n  = 250) revealed that the LLD-KQ demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) supported a three-factor model with constructs of psychopathology, assessment/diagnosis, and treatment, although the differences between the three-factor and single-factor models were minimal. The LLD-KQ demonstrates adequate psychometric properties and can be used in dissemination and implementation efforts, as well as in professional trainings, to assess clinical knowledge about later-life depression.

A new titanosauriform with European affinities in the Early Cretaceous of Brazil: insights on Somphospondyli phylogeny, histology and biogeography

A non-titanosaur Somphospondyli specimen unearthed from Early Cretaceous (Aptian) deposits of north-eastern Brazil allowed the establishment of a new taxon, Dasosaurus tocantinensis gen. et sp. nov. Shared synapomorphic traits, notably a complex of three anteroposteriorly elongated ridges in the middle and posterior caudal vertebrae, with a groove above the ventral one, and a well-developed lateral bulge on the femur, support the position of the new sauropod as sister to Garumbatitan morellensis , from the Barremian of Spain. Osteohistological patterns recognized in D. tocantinensis include a mixture of traits previously recognized separately in early diverging neosauropods and later titanosaurs, including an external fundamental system and remains of primary laminar tissue, along with a high degree of secondary remodelling. Apart from expanding the known diversity of Early Cretaceous sauropods in the northern part of South America, this discovery highlights biogeographical connections with more northern Gondwanan areas, as well as Europe. In fact, numerical biogeographical analyses suggest that the clade formed by D. tocantinensis and Ga. morellensis had a European origin, with the lineage including D. tocantinensis dispersing to South America via northern Africa at some point between the Valanginian and Aptian. https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0BF20DD1-159D-40EE-8E46-3EE88771470A

The claim to have rights, and the right to have claims − transnational solidarity of Roma in the face of the war in Ukraine

Russian full-scale military aggression against Ukraine in 2022 entailed mass departures of people fleeing the war-torn country. The arrival of forced migrants to Poland was met by an unprecedented grassroots mobilisation of the society in their support. However, not everyone received the same welcome. The experiences of Ukrainian Roma arriving in Poland as forced migrants often point to discrimination and antigypsyism from the majority population and Ukrainians alike. This is where the Polish Roma, who experienced decades of discrimination and international resettlement, stepped in, claiming rights on behalf of Ukrainian Roma. The article analyses the mobilisation of Polish Roma in support of Ukrainian Roma arriving to Poland through the lenses of citizenship and enactments of citizenship, understood here as both claims to have rights and right to have claims. This social mobilisation is the continuation of the decades-long Roma struggles for equality, recognition and citizens’ rights. Seen through these lenses, the authors analyse the enactments of citizenship through claims to have rights and the right to have claims in various acts of safeguarding the rights of Ukrainian Roma refugees by the Polish Roma.

Variability in corneal and epithelial pachymetry using optical coherence tomography machines in dry eye patients and contact lens wearers

Accurate evaluation of corneal and epithelial thickness is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring ocular surface disorders. This study compared the variability and agreement of corneal and epithelial thickness measurements obtained using two optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices – REVO FC 130 (Optopol Technology, Zawiercie, Poland) and RTVue XR Avanti (Optovue Inc. Fremont, CA, USA) – in patients with dry eye disease and long-term contact lens wearers. In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 67 participants (41 contact lens users and 26 with dry eye disease) underwent OCT imaging with both devices. Two trained operators performed at least three scans per eye. Main outcomes included intra-examiner repeatability, inter-examiner reproducibility, and inter-device agreement for epithelial, stromal, and pachymetric thicknesses, analyzed using Bland – Altman plots, Deming regression, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Both devices demonstrated high repeatability and reproducibility (ICC > 0.9) with minimal mean differences across all parameters. The REVO device provided slightly higher thickness values than the Avanti. Measurements in dry eye patients showed marginally lower consistency than in contact lens wearers. Both OCTs deliver comparable, reliable corneal measurements, supporting their use interchangeably in clinical and research settings. Minor device-related variations should be acknowledged when assessing patients with ocular surface instability.

Event city congruence and behavioural intentions: insights from the Oran 2022 Mediterranean games

This study examines the relationship between event-city image congruence, destination image, and behavioural intentions towards both the destination and the event. Prior to the event, 620 Algerians living outside of the host city (Oran) completed an online questionnaire. The conceptual model was validated using PLS-SEM. The findings indicate that congruence has a positive effect on destination image and all behavioural intentions. The cognitive and affective image of a destination influences the intention to revisit, recommend it, and attend an event.

Innovations and applications of technology in language education edited by Hung Phu Bui, Raghvendra Kumar, and Nilayam Kumar Kamila, Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 2024, xii + 216 pp. ISBN 978-1-032-56073-1 (hbk): $210.00, ISBN 978-1-003-47391-6 (ebk): $189.00

Self-monitoring symptoms and pulse oximetry to predict imminent altitude illness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are susceptible to altitude-related adverse health effects (ARAHE). Does structured self-monitoring (SSM) predict imminent ARAHE in COPD patients during altitude travel. Patients with moderate to severe COPD without chronic respiratory failure, living below 800 m, ascended by bus within 5 h to a clinic at 3100 m and stayed there for 2 days. During the altitude sojourn, patients regularly monitored themselves for symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and/or drops of pulse oximetry (SpO 2 ) to ≤84%, events designated as positive SSM. Measures of diagnostic accuracy of SSM in predicting subsequent ARAHE (defined as AMS Lake Louise score >4 and/or SpO 2  <80% for >30 min or <75% for >15 min and/or any condition requiring medical intervention) were computed. www.ClinicalTrials.org NCT03957759. Among 153 COPD patients (79 women, mean ± SD age 57 ± 10y) travelling to 3100 m, SSM was positive in 55 (36%), ARAHE occurred in 116 (76%). Concordance statistics indicated a diagnostic accuracy of SSM in predicting ARAHE of 0.65 (95%CI 0.58 to 0.72). In SSM positive patients, the odds ratio for ARAHE was 4.9 (95%CI 1.8 to 12.9). Positive and negative predictive values of SSM for ARAHE were 91% (95%CI 80 to 97) and 33% (95%CI 24 to 43). In exploratory analyses, supplementing SSM by nocturnal pulse oximetry with alarm capability enhanced diagnostic accuracy considerably (sensitivity improved from 43% to 73% concordance statistic increased to 0.80). Lowlanders with COPD ascending to 3100 m commonly experience ARAHE. Due to its high positive predictive value, performing SSM may allow patients to predict imminent ARAHE and take timely appropriate actions such as descend or use oxygen. Negative SSM does not reliably indicate a low risk of ARAHE.

Mapping Dental Care for Children and Adolescents With Rare Diseases: A Brazilian Multicentre Study

ABSTRACT Objectives To describe the landscape of dental care provided by specialised centres for children and adolescents with rare diseases (RDs) in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Methods A retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted involving individuals aged 0–18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of a RD who received care at five specialised dental centres. Data on the diagnosis, age at first dental appointment, frequency of annual visits and travel distance from home to treatment centre were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results A total of 1057 individuals with 244 different RDs were identified. Most were boys (54.9%). The average age at the first dental appointment was 8.52 years. Haematological diseases were the most prevalent (38.9%). The average travel distance for treatment was 99.1 km, with individuals from the Jequitinhonha region traveling the farthest (526.3 km). The average number of annual dental visits was 2.4. Patients with craniofacial syndromes accessed care earlier (average: 3.6 years) and had more frequent follow‐up appointments (average: 4.8 visits/year). Significant regional disparities were found in age at first appointment ( p  < 0.001), travel distance ( p  < 0.001) and frequency of visits ( p  = 0.002). Conclusions Children and adolescents with RDs had delayed initiation of dental care, low follow‐up rates and substantial travel burdens. The concentration of specialised centres in the state capital underscores the need for policy reforms to improve equitable access, particularly for patients in remote areas.

Cell Type–Specific Encoding of Cocaine‐Conditioned Responses in the Lateral Preoptic Area

ABSTRACT The lateral preoptic area (LPO) is a functionally heterogeneous hypothalamic structure that is increasingly recognised for its role in motivated and drug‐seeking behaviours. Although prior studies have shown that LPO neurons exhibit diverse activity patterns during cocaine self‐administration, the specific contributions of glutamatergic and GABAergic populations to conditioned responses to cocaine remain unclear. In this study, we recorded the activity of LPO glutamatergic ( vglut2 ‐expressing) and GABAergic ( vgat ‐expressing) neuronal subpopulations during cocaine conditioning to identify how these cell types respond to drug‐associated cues in awake, behaving mice. Our results revealed that, after cocaine conditioning, both glutamatergic and GABAergic populations showed reduced activity upon entry into the cocaine‐paired chamber. However, only glutamatergic neurons exhibited increased activity when mice entered the saline‐paired chamber. The magnitude of these activity changes was also correlated with behavioural outcomes: reduced GABAergic activity was associated with greater preference for the cocaine‐paired chamber, whereas stronger glutamatergic responses were associated with greater preference for the saline‐paired chamber. These findings indicate that LPO GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons exhibit distinct, cell type–specific patterns during cocaine‐conditioned place preference. Rather than indicating opposing motivational states, the results highlight that LPO activity relates to conditioned behaviours in a cell type– and context‐dependent manner. By linking activity in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons with conditioned responses, this work provides initial evidence for how LPO circuits may contribute to drug‐associated learning.

Memantine Confers Multi‐Target Protection in a Zebrafish Seizure Model: Attenuating Epileptic Behavior, GluN2A Overexpression, and Oxidative Stress

ABSTRACT Drug repurposing represents a strategic approach to identifying multi‐target therapies for complex disorders like refractory epilepsy. Memantine (MN), a well‐tolerated N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist with additional multi‐target activities, is a promising candidate for repurposing. This study investigated the preventive effects of MN on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)‐induced seizures and its associated neurochemical and behavioral sequelae in adult zebrafish. Animals were pre‐treated with MN (20 or 50 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle 1 or 2 h before PTZ exposure. Seizure behavior was assessed immediately, while neurochemical and behavioral analyses were conducted 24 h post‐seizure. MN pre‐treatment significantly attenuated seizure severity and delayed the onset of tonic–clonic seizures. Notably, MN prevented the PTZ‐induced upregulation of the GluN2A NMDAR subunit and mitigated oxidative stress by reducing protein carbonylation and normalizing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Furthermore, MN abolished the PTZ‐induced increase in time spent in the white compartment of a light/dark test, a behavioral indicator of disrupted defensive responses. These results demonstrate that MN confers robust anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, and behavioral‐stabilizing effects in a zebrafish seizure model. Our findings reinforce the potential of memantine as a novel multi‐target adjunct therapy for mitigating the neurobehavioral consequences of epilepsy.